Ornamental chain



Nov. 23 1926. 1,607,808.

' J.. ANTHONY ORNIAMENTAL CHAIN Filed Feb. 10. 1925 Patented Nov. 23,1926.

PATENT OFFIfiE.

JOHN ANTHONY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

ORNAMEN'IAL CHAIN.

Application filed February My invention relates to a resilient,expansible, chain or jewelry component adapted for embodiment inbracelets, armlets, girdles, belts, garters, and other articles forornamental wear.

An essential object of this invention is to overcome the usual tendencyof the chain to assume a twisted position.

Further objects are inexpensiveness of construction, strength, andfacile expansion and contraction.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts and insuch combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specificatiou-Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a length of my chain, embodied in awatchbracelet and partially in longitudinal section, wherein the detailedconstruction of the sheath is of a somewhat diagraimnatic character,

Figure 2, an enlarged transverse section of the same,

Figure 3, an enlarged plan view of a poi" tion of the material fromwhich the sheath is construct-ed,

Figure 4:, a section of the same on line 44 of Figure 3,

Figure 5, a plan view of an unflattened core partially assembled,showing in broken lines its complete form,

Figure 6. an enlarged plan view of a portion of the same flattened,

Figure 7, a section of a modified form of my invention, and

Figure 8. a plan view of a further modified form of my invention.

Similarcharacters of reference indicate like parts throughout the views.

In the present and preferred embodiment of my chain 11, a metallic tubeor sheath l2 embraces a core 13. Both are flexible metallic andextensible, the latter preferably possessing a greater inherent degreeof ex pansibility.

The sheath 12 is preferably constituted thus. A series of transverselydisposed originally helical wire members have interengaging helices, andthe whole wire fabric is then flattened. A strip of fabric soconstructed is shown in Figure 3 wherein one transverse wire member 15,has open longitudinal loops 16 successively oppositely di- 10, 1925.Serial No. 8,137.

rected. The adjacent transverse wire member 18 of the series has thealternate loops 19 of its longitudinal series slidably interengagingalternate loops 16 of the series formed on member 15. The oblong wirefabric sheet 20 thus constructed, a portion of which is shown in Figure3, has a moderate degree of flexibility, and a liberal degree oflongitudinal expansibility through the slidable interaction of the loopsl6 and 19. The strip is bent lengthwise into permanent tubular form toconstitute a sheath 12 for the core-13, either flattened as shown inFigure 2, 0r cylindrical as shown in Figure 7. The describedconstruction of the sheath is not exclusive. and it may be of anonfabric character so long as it has a capacity for longitudinalextension or contraction.

The core 13 is constructed as follows. Two helical springs 23 and 2d areprovided. The helices 25 of the former are wound in one direction, andthe helices 26 of the spring 24 are wound and, therefore, inclined in adirection opposite to those of the spring 23. The windings may bedistinguished from each other as right and left. The two springs placedside by side are pressed together so that the helices 25 of one aresuccessively brought between the helices 26 of the other, and theinterengaging helices form a composite helical spring. In Figure 5 isshown in full lines the interengaged portion 29 of the composite spring,in course of assemblage, and portions of thesprings 23 and 24 notcompletely interengaged. When the interengagement of the free portionsof springs 23 and 2d are completed they will assume the outlineindicated in broken lines, and thus complete the composite spring 29.This spring is adapted as the core or retractive element of a chain,because it retains its longitudinal elasticity, but possesses notorsional property, as the torsional influence of one constituent spiralspring is neutralized by the torsional influence of the otherconstituent spring. Hence when the spring 29 is engaged within acylindrical longitudinally expansible sheath, as shown in Figure 7, thechain will not assume a twisted position.

When my novel core is purposed for use in a flattened or transverselyelliptical sheath, as shown in Figure 2, the core 29 is crushed orflattened by compression into the form of core 13, shown in Figures 1,2, 6 and 8. In the flattened spiral form of Figures 1 and 2 the relativepositions of the loops or helices and 26 are preserved and thenontorsional property of the core 29 is retained.

T he contactual relation or natural trictional engagement of the corewith its sheath causes the former to draw together the transversemembers of the sheath and longitudinally contract the latter. Bygrasping the sheath with its enclosed core between the thumb and fingerat two spaced points and pulling in opposite directions the transversemembers of the sheath will separate and expand the chain. When the chainis manually released the core contracts the sheath. When the chain is tobe subjected to excessive strain the ends of the core may be morepositively engaged or attached to the sheath and in any convenientmanner. Such supplemental engagement may be by a metal loop 33 threadedthrough a core helix and the material of the sheath at or near the endsof the core.

A length of my chain 11 is shown in Fig ure 1 as the body of a watchbracelet to whose ends are attached watch fastener members 35. Thefasteners in this instance have split tubular sleeves 36 upon theirinner ends and hooks 37 upon the outer ends. The sleeves are tightlywrapped around the sheath 20 and in this case are provided withtransverse indents 38 compressing the sleeves,

sheath, and core into still further engage ment.

In Figure 8 my chain is shown embodied in a bracelet 4L0 of the annulustype wherein the ends of the sheath are joined together, as well as theends of the core, to form an endless structure.

While both the flattened and unflattened forms of chain, 13 and 29,shown respectively in Figures 2 and 7, are efitective, superiornontorsional results are attained by the structure shown in Figure 2,which is the preferred form.

I claim 1. In an ornamental chain, an extensible sheath, and a compositeretracting member therein comprising a right hand spring and a left handspring, the loops of one spring successively interengaging in overlappedrelation the loops of the other spring.

2. In an ornamental chain, an external series of transversely disposedhelical wire members, each member interengaging the members adjacentthereto and slidable there on longitudinally of the chain, and aresilient core engaged by the members extensible by the extension of themembers comprising interengapjing series of opposite wound loopsinterengaged and overlapping and adapted to contract the members whenreleased.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN ANTHONY.

